Random Thoughts… for the 09012011 Pinaglabanan Bulletin
The August 25 meeting date was called-off due to the club’s Vocational Service and Fellowship project at the San Lazaro Hippodrome – A Horse Race Track located in Carmona last August 20.
Let me therefore report on the Club activity of August 20 also known as the “field trip.”
Assembly was at 10am in Club Filipino, and members who have earlier signified their intention to participate arrived on time for the 10:30am departure. Members present at Club Fil were ‘FDG’ Benny Pe, PP Noel Mesina, PP Noni Topacio, PP Pol Leoncio, PP Tony Abola, Rtn Therese Montecer, Honorary Member, PP Ver Farcon, and I. Travel accommodations were provided by FDG Benny where we all boarded his luxurious Ford Club Wagon while Papa Ver’s brand new (black) Mitsubishi Montero sport tailed us. Members who live in South Metro Manila, namely Pres Nan Sallan and PE Jojo Bacarro agreed to meet-up at the first stop of this field trip, Guernica’s Spanish Restaurant in Santana Grove, Sucat Paranaque for lunch and to celebrate Rtn Bernard Morillo’s birthday blow-out. Pres Nan arrived before noon accompanied by his spouse Carmen and son, Luigi, while PE Jojo came solo. The birthday boy was garbed in red – also present to celebrate his 40th was spouse “ChairMam” Cecile and their four daughters.
We were served a sumptuous lunch of green salad, pochero, lengua, fish with lemon butter sauce, mushroom al ajillo, calamares fritos, and red wine. For dessert we had churros con chocolate and coffee. As it is now a custom in RCSJ meetings, ambience over lunch had that special ingredient of laughter and photos that have once again turned this gathering into a memorable event.
After lunch, at about 1:00pm, we formed a three car convoy and motored to the San Lazaro Race Track. Entrance to the property development was like entering an exclusive subdivision, a gated community, with residential units by the right, lots of greens on the left, lots of parking spaces leading to the club house - a multi-storey building – very clean, well built, well designed, with nice facilities – truly “world class” as described by our guest speaker, Mr. Andy Sevilla.
Atop the escalator ride to the second floor, we were met by our contact person who gave us a quick tour of the building, and then we were led to our private room - a spacious glass enclosed room with high ceiling, round tables with its own set of tv monitors and a balcony that provided a panoramic view of the race track and surrounding scenery. Before the start of the first race, we visited the casino on the third floor.
After three races, off we went to Estancia in Tagaytay. Since there was no traffic on the way up to Tagaytay, we arrived too early for dinner. We proceeded to Tagaytay Highlands where we took a tour of the Golf Club House and the Main Club House. Rtn Therese wanted to ride the cable car, but was under maintenance repairs. From there we boarded the cars again for Estancia.
At the Estancia resort, ‘FDG’ Benny gave us a tour of the Mediterranean inspired main club house, and the newly renovated cottages now sporting the Greek Santorini design that replaced the former bamboo/nipa huts. The walk from the club house to the cottages and back worked up an appetite and prepared us for the well prepared buffet back at the main club house for dinner.
The trip back to Club Filipino was fast except for the off-ramp traffic at the Magallanes exit of SLEX caused by the repair in one lane leading towards EDSA.
We all had fun for this field trip and welcomed the break from our weekly routine. Pres. Nan wants to have more such fellowships during his term. ‘FDG’ Benny quickly concurred and said that our meetings should be made more interesting in order to attract new members.
Cheers and enjoy Rotary
PP Jovie
No comments:
Post a Comment